'An Entire Village Submerged' Floods Hit Western Europe... "Global Warming Is the Cause"

Flooding of houses and roads due to embankment collapse... Death toll expected to rise
Heavy rain feared on the 16th... Damage spreading to Netherlands and France

On the 15th (local time), vehicles are entangled at a roundabout in the city center of Verbier, Belgium, flooded due to heavy rain in Western Europe. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Heavy rains across the border area of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have caused massive flooding, resulting in 67 deaths and over 70 people missing, with casualties increasing rapidly. More heavy rain is forecasted for this region, suggesting that the scale of damage will grow even larger.

According to the BBC on the 15th (local time), flooding caused by heavy rains across the border areas of western Germany's Westphalia, Belgium's Li?ge, and the Netherlands led to riverbanks bursting, resulting in 59 deaths in Germany and 8 in Belgium. In Germany, over 70 people are reported missing, and the death toll is expected to rise further.

A woman is walking through the city streets flooded up to her chest on the 15th (local time) in Li?ge, southeastern Belgium, where record-breaking heavy rain fell.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Associated Press, the Meuse River in Li?ge, Belgium's third-largest city, is on the verge of overflowing, prompting evacuation orders for residents. However, highways and major railway facilities are already submerged, making evacuation difficult.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is currently visiting the United States, held a press conference after being informed of the flooding, stating, "I am shocked by this humanitarian disaster," and called it "a national tragedy." She emphasized, "We will do our utmost to save lives, prevent further risks, and alleviate suffering."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Particularly, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, where more than 30 deaths have occurred due to the flooding, is the constituency of Armin Laschet, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union who succeeded Chancellor Angela Merkel. The BBC reported that this is expected to have an impact on German politics. At a press conference that day, Laschet stated, "The cause of this heavy rain is global warming," and argued, "We must accelerate global efforts to combat climate change."

With more heavy rain expected around the area on the 16th, concerns are rising that the damage may spread to the Netherlands and France as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.